"Possibly he remained at home and Brother Gramps went to see him on some business pertaining to the church.

But I don't understand why they did not meet at the church to transact their business.

Brother Jones, will you run over to Deacon Brown's and tell Brother Gramps about his awful accident ?" "Certainly," responded Jones, who stood near the barnyard gate talking with Gramps' hired hand, from whom he was endeavoring to learn the details as to how the fire started.
"Try to tell him," remarked Bonds, "in a way that will not be too much of a shock to him." Jones mounted a horse and hurried off to Deacon Brown's and was soon back with the news that Gramps had not been seen at Brown's, and that Brown was sick in bed, which fact accounted for his being absent from the service that morning.
When it was learned that Gramps was not at Deacon Brown's, considerable anxiety began to be manifested on the part of neighbors.

Some suggested that it was possible that Gramps could have been in the barn when it burned.

Of course, care was exercised that such remarks should not reach the ears of Mrs.Gramps.Messages were sent to all the neighbors in search of Gramps.